Whatever Happened To David Cassidy From ‘The Partridge Family’?

UPDATED 8/26/2020

If you were a teenage girl in the ’70s, you probably had a crush on David Cassidy. I know my mom did! Sadly, David passed away in 2017 after a long battle with alcoholism. Before his tragic end, he had a long and successful career. He was best known for playing Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family in the 1970s.

Enjoy the Partridge Cast Then & Now Compilation 🙂

Let’s look back at David’s life before he became a teen idol in the ’70s. He was born on April 12, 1950, in New York City. His parents were singer and actor Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward. While his parents toured, he often stayed with his grandparents in New Jersey.

A look back on David Cassidy’s early life

After his parents divorced, his father married actress Shirley Jones, who became David’s mother in The Partridge Family. Before he hit it big on The Partridge Family, he appeared in the Broadway musical The Fig Leaves Are Falling. Later, he signed with Universal Studios and appeared in episodes of Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D., Adam-12, Medical Center, and Bonanza.

RELATED: ‘The Partridge Family’ Actors, Then And Now 2020

When he was cast in The Partridge Family and the musical television series took off, David reportedly felt trapped by fame. However, he continued to work and even started releasing solo albums and tours. Some of his most popular solo hits were “Cherish,” “Daydreamer” / “The Puppy Song,” and “How Can I Be Sure.”

Despite reaching high levels of success and fame, David admitted that he was broke by the 1980s. He continued to work as a solo artist and began to perform in musical theater. He continued to work until his death, often going on tours and answering questions for fans during the shows. David worked a lot in Las Vegas in the ’90s.

Sadly, he battled with alcoholism for most of his life

In his personal life, he was married three times and had a total of two children. His first wife was actress Kay Lenz, his second wife was horse breeder Meryl Tanz, and his third wife was Sue Shifrin. He had a child, Katie with a girlfriend, Sherry Williams in 1986. His other child is a son Beau from his marriage with Sue.

Acting-wise, he continued to work here and there while maintaining a music career. His last few appearances were in Celebrity Apprentice in 2011 and an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2013.

What did David Cassidy die of?

Unfortunately, David’s battle with alcoholism clouded his life. He was arrested for several DIUs over the years. Before his death, he told fans that he was diagnosed with dementia, which turned out to be a lie. He was trying to cover up his alcoholism. After falling ill at a recording studio, he found out he had liver disease, but died while waiting for a liver at the age of 67.